Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

As alluded to by Deputy O'Donnell, it emerged this morning that the previous Minister at the Department, Deputy O'Donoghue, opposed an inquiry into the events in Donegal on the misleading basis that he had read the Carty report and taken legal advice from the then Attorney General, Deputy McDowell. In fact, neither gentlemen had the full Carty report in his possession. Surely, we are not to conclude the then Attorney General, Deputy McDowell, and Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, colluded deliberately to mislead Deputy Howlin. The Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, however, scurried from the Chamber without availing of the opportunity to respond to a charge by Deputy Howlin so grave in character that in any other jurisdiction, a Minister would have immediately apologised, corrected the record or, alternatively, resigned his office.

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